Tag Archives: live performance

This post originally appeared on the Sonicbids Blog. Performing live music is a nerve-racking experience. No amount of singing in the mirror or head-banging in the garage can quite prepare you for the moment when the lights come up and you’re there. The center of attention. The subject of scrutiny. “Here we are now, entertain …
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What was your biggest mid-show emergency, and how did you deal? I went to a wedding this weekend and danced for hours to the music of Funktapuss, a super fun funk band from Hyannis, Massachusetts. They were great players, but what impressed me most was what they did when things took a turn for the …
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This article was written by Alex Andrews of Ten Kettles Inc. It originally appeared HERE. Check out the new music theory app from Ten Kettles — “Waay: Music theory that matters.” Click here to learn about its video lessons, interactive exercises, progress-tracking tools, and more. You’ve just arrived at rehearsal and you’re really excited to …
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Do you watch the HBO show Girls? If you do, you probably already know where I’m going with this. If you don’t, I’ll give you a quick recap of a recent cringe-worthy, awkward, highly-uncomfortable-but-ultimately-kind-of-funny scene – one that we can all learn a valuable (though admittedly basic) lesson from. Marnie (played by Alison Williams) has …
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Make your average gigs more dramatic an interview with The Orion Experience The Orion Experience was tired of playing the same old kinds of gigs. You know the ones: you arrive on time, throw your gear in the corner, rush on stage 15 minutes before your set, plug in, play for 45 minutes, etc. They …
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Have you ever played a sold-out gig in which you didn’t sell as much merch as you would have expected? Have you ever performed in front of a seemingly enthusiastic crowd, only to have very few of them sign up for your newsletter after the show? We’ve all been there, and there are a variety …
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Concert etiquette smackdown: audience vs. performer! During the performance in the video clip above, pianist Christian Zacharias stops playing when he hears a cell phone ringing in the audience. Some folks in the Classical Music world have sung his praises for this, agreeing with Zacharias that everyone in the hall (both the audience and the …
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How to court your concert audience with more creative song intros Do you want to develop a fan base from stage or not? It begins with the introductions to your songs. (And I’m not talking about speaking to your audience!). I always say there’s a difference between what you perform live and what you record. …
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The wide-eyed bobble-head, the sweaty John Mayer, painful-urination face, the demented otter, the meekstress, Satan’s glare; these are all facial expressions you’ve probably seen musicians make at some point, though you may’ve called them by different names. When you’re performing on stage, reaching deep inside and pouring out your soul, your facial gestures are probably …
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Even if your band puts on the best show in the world, it’s gonna get stale after a while-– both for you as the performer and for members of the audience who come out to see you religiously. Think of the adrenaline rush you had the first time you played a new song live. Now …
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